FORT PIERCE, Fla. (August 30, 2013) – The expertise at FAU Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute is broadening, thanks to the hire of two new faculty members with extensive experience in physical oceanography. The positions were made possible through funding provided by the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute Foundation.

FAU Harbor Branch recently welcomed Laurent M. Chérubin, Ph.D., who came to HBOI from the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science where he was an associate scientist and adjunct faculty member. Chérubin earned an undergraduate degree in fluid mechanics from the University of Bordeaux in France, a master’s degree in physical and coastal oceanography, as well as a Ph.D. in science of marine environment from the University of Méditerranée in Marseille, France.

Mingshun Jiang, Ph.D., will join the FAU Harbor Branch faculty as a physical oceanographer in late September. Jiang will be leaving his position as a research associate and adjunct professor at the University of Massachusetts Department of Environmental, Earth and Ocean Sciences in Boston, where he has been for more than 10 years. Jiang earned an undergraduate degree in applied mathematics from Peking University in Beijing, P.R. China and a Ph.D. in physical oceanography from the Ocean University of Qingdao in Qingdao, P.R. China.

“We are very excited to welcome our two new research faculty to Harbor Branch,” said Megan Davis, Ph.D., associate executive director of research. “Their research discipline in physical oceanography will enhance collaborations in ocean science, coastal systems, and the Indian River Lagoon at both Harbor Branch and FAU.”

About Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute:Founded in 1971, Florida Atlantic University’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute is a research community of marine scientists, engineers, educators and other professionals focused on Ocean Science for a Better World. The institute drives innovation in ocean engineering, at-sea operations, drug discovery and biotechnology from the oceans, coastal ecology and conservation, marine mammal research and conservation, aquaculture, ocean observing systems and marine education. For more information, visit www.fau.edu/hboi.

About Florida Atlantic University:
Florida Atlantic University, established in 1961, officially opened its doors in 1964 as the fifth public university in Florida. Today, the University, with an annual economic impact of $6.3 billion, serves more than 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students at sites throughout its six-county service region in southeast Florida. FAU’s world-class teaching and research faculty serves students through 10 colleges: the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, the College of Business, the College for Design and Social Inquiry, the College of Education, the College of Engineering and Computer Science, the Graduate College, the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing and the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science. FAU is ranked as a High Research Activity institution by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The University is placing special focus on the rapid development of three signature themes – marine and coastal issues, biotechnology and contemporary societal challenges – which provide opportunities for faculty and students to build upon FAU’s existing strengths in research and scholarship. For more information, visit www.fau.edu.